The Alternative Volcanic Seven Summits

Back in October 2019 I wrote a blog that discussed whether a volcano in Australia ought to replace Mount Giluwe for the purposes of the list of the Volcanic Seven Summits.  This was based on use of the principles behind the Bass version of the Seven Summits.  In other words, the landmass of Australia, rather than Australasia or Oceania, ought to be considered as the territory to be looked at to find that volcano.

I have not changed my views on which mountain counts as the volcano for this alternative Volcanic Seven Summits list.  In other words, Brumlow Top in the Barrington Tops National Park would be the one to replace Mount Giluwe in these circumstances.  So, if accepted, a climb of Brumlow Top would be necessary to claim completion of the Volcanic Seven Summits.

This is the link to that blog.

I doubt if the true summit of Brumlow Top receives many visits.  A 4WD track runs quite close to the summit. But most users of the track will be in vehicles or on bikes and/or will have different objectives in mind.  So, they will, unwittingly, simply pass by.  Certainly, an internet search for “Brumlow Top climb” does not bring up many useful results.

It is unlikely that Brumlow Top will ever catch on as being a worthy member of the Volcanic Seven Summits. This is notwithstanding the logic (based on the Bass criteria) of including it.  That is a shame. Because to quote the Australian explorer, James Allen, it is “situated in probably one of my top 10 World’s best biomes, Barrington Tops, (officially the world’s most diverse rainforest and equal with the world’s cleanest/purest water)”.  Although it is a fairly easy ascent, he also recognises that very few people climb it “as there are no views from the summit and no path to the top” (well, at least once you leave the 4WD track).  And it also “has the most spectacular vegetation and wildlife”. You might, for example, see brumbies (wild horses), kangaroos, wallabies, snakes, lizards, lyre birds, other rainforest birds, and many smaller creatures.

As far as I am aware only he and I have ever completed this version of the Volcanic Seven Summits.

Any other takers?  [That said, please note the qualifications I set out in my original blog.] James has his own website here.

It is also worth noting that the summit area is right at the edge of a quarantine area for Phytophthora. Phytophthora is a water mould that thrives in moist soils.  It attacks the roots of plants, causing them to rot. After then the plants die due to their inability to absorb enough water and nutrients.  The quarantine area, clearly, is designed to stop the spread of the mould.  If you follow tracks to the east there are gates with “No entry” signs.  In the dense bush it is not feasible to put up fences to bar entry to the top of Brumlow Top or the quarantine area.  So it is best not to stray too far eastwards from the summit.  If you do, not only might you spread the mould but you might also fall into one of the swamps that dot the plateau!

Finally, I have also written a blog on other candidates for inclusion in the Volcanic Seven Summits list.  That blog is here.